The rants and ramblings of a Republitarian. Expect the free market and strict Constitutionalism.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Common-sense proposals.

President Obama gave a speech that has a lot of people talking. Executive orders and a push for Congress to take action...kind of scary to think about the implications of 23 executive orders, even if you aren't pro-gun.
What are his "common-sense proposals," you ask? He wants all gun sales to go through a licensed dealer, ten-round magazine limits, an "assault weapons" ban, a director of the ATF, and more police. Let's examine the amount of common sense in these proposals.
All sales being subject to a background check seems reasonable. Well, until you consider the fact that private individuals own, sell, and trade firearms, as well as firearms being passed down or given as gifts. Not only does such a proposal keep a person from doing as they will with their own property, but it is virtually unenforceable. Sure, gun show entry fees will go up to subsidize the background checks on private sales, but if someone wants to sell a gun in secret, they won't be stopped. Sadly, I think this is one of the reasons they want this law--if they can't enforce it, they'll push for gun registration to help track whether people are selling privately.
Magazine capacity limits...well, the purpose of the Second Amendment is to protect from tyranny. Besides, more shooting with fewer reloads means that a responsible individual can become more proficient.
So-called "assault weapons" are scary in appearance only. The features, by and large, are either non-functional or helpful to the average shooter. A heat shield is mostly for looks, but does prevent burns by a hot barrel. A collapsible stock allows a gun to properly fit a shooter. A flash hider diffuses muzzle flash, keeping it from impairing the shooter or others. A folding stock makes it easier to store a gun. A pistol grip is easier for many shooters to properly control a firearm.
Approving an ATF Director isn't much, but the agency needs a proper choice. It already has too much power, and the right Director would temper that.
More police, though, may be the scariest. Sure, public safety is the noted goal, but an increased police force costs a lot of money and gives the government more power. I'd prefer to see the existing manpower used more efficiently, instead.
Maybe the pro-freedom crowd should posit some common-sense proposals of our own.
First, civilians should be given access to military weapons and training facilities. After all, how can we fight tyranny without access to the same tools a tyrant would use against us? Given the restrictions of the NFA and the GCA, we are ill-equipped to fight back.
Second, we should add firearms safety to the public school curriculum. Teaching children how to respect and safely use firearms would help prevent many senseless tragedies.
Finally, we should take a good look at the framework of our justice system. Are we trying to punish or rehabilitate criminals? If someone is not to be trusted without their rights, should we trust them with their freedom? Whatever the answers, they require consideration.
Common sense dictates we maintain our freedoms. Common sense requires we prepare to defend those freedoms from tyranny. Common sense turns justice toward criminals, not the law-abiding. Common sense is far from common on the national stage.